SIMON Francis insisted Cardiff boss Neil Warnock’s man management skills were “second-to-none”.

The Cherries skipper could come face-to-face with his former manager when the Bluebirds on Saturday visit Vitality Stadium (3pm).

Francis was snapped up for £200,000 by Sheffield United under Warnock from Bradford as a 19-year-old in March 2004.

He made 15 appearances in all competitions for the Blades before making the switch to Southend United two years later.

The Cherries captain told the Daily Echo: “It was a real learning curve for me playing under Neil Warnock but I was injured for the majority of the time while I was there.

“I ended up having to go out on loan after that and never really got the chance to get into the first team at Sheffield United.

“He signed me from Bradford and I learned a lot under him. His man management skills are second-to-none.

“You can see from his style of play that, tactically, he does not necessarily have a possession-based style but he knows his strengths as a manager and knows what he can do with a football team.

“To get promoted the number of times he has and most recently with Cardiff is a huge success and you have to give him a lot of credit.”